Essequibians to get state-of-the-art agriculture school

By IndrawattIe Natram

Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Ali Baksh on Saturday announced that a state-of-the-art agriculture school with a dormitory will be constructed on the Essequibo Coast. Baksh, who was at the time addressing scores of students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) Essequibo branch, said the government will be investing over Gy$ 100 million in the project.
The school will target students from the Essequibo Coast, Wakenaam, Leguan and Region One, who are pursuing a diploma in agriculture science or forestry.
The minister said the government has recognised the costs parents bear to send their children to study at the Guyana School of Agriculture in Mon Repos to do the practical aspect of the agriculture programme, and noted that the new school will address this problem. “We recognised this is a costly exercise for parents, and also a new adaptation for the children, as such, we well be bringing the necessary educational facility to the children on the coast.”
Baksh said once the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration remains in power, the construction of the school will be another achievement.
The school, he said will also be equipped with modern agriculture equipment, and will be managed by qualified specialists in the different fields of agriculture.
The minister said too that more focus has to be placed on the maintenance and development of the cottage industry on the Essequibo Coast.
Essequibo has many small-scale businesses involved in various activities, from the bottling of water coconuts to a pineapple factory.
Baksh told the students that today, they have better opportunities as they are constantly exposed to the world of technology where information can be easily accessed.
He also advised the students that in today’s world, a secondary education is not enough, and they should pursue further studies on completion of secondary school.
Baksh, while at the institution, toured the farming plots with the students who used the opportunity to request from the minister additional text books for the institution.
The minister was accompanied by Regional Agriculture Officer Khemraj Khandai; Community Enhancement Project Coordinator Nankishore Persaud; Region Two Community Enhancement Project Coordinator Brian Basil and GSA Essequibo branch administrator Ramdass. The school is offering a one-year certificate in forestry and a two-year diploma in agriculture science.